Until the 1970's, Campbell County was primarily agricultural. The County experience a large growth from homesteading during and after World War I. Many of the small homesteads survived until taken over for coal reserves in the 1970's. Coal has been important in the Powder River region since prior to the coming of Europeans. Natural outcropping occur in the area which were utilized by Indians. In 1920, the Peerless Mine opened as an underground mine. In the 1970's, the coal industry expanded, as a result of the need for Wyoming's low sulphur coal, to the point that Campbell County now provides in excess of one-fifth of all coal mined in the United States. Additionally, the area is now involved with the production of coal methane gas.
Minerals in Campbell County
Early homesteaders found deposits of coal close to the surface. This provided an inexpensive fuel for them to use in heating their homes. Starting in 1909, small mines were built around the county. The first major coal mine in Campbell County was Wyodak, east of Gillette. This was the first surface mine in the west, and the coal seam at Wyodak averages 80 feet thick. This mine continues to produce coal for the nearby power plant. Campbell County contains more coal than any other county in Wyoming. This coal has a very low sulfur content, and is clean burning. Increased concerns about air pollution in the United States encouraged the mining of Campbell Countys low sulfur coal. During the 1970s coal companies planned and built large surface mines in Campbell County. Most of the coal produced in the County is shipped by train to coal-fired power plants in the Midwest. The increased coal production in Campbell County caused the railroad to build 116 miles of new track in the 1970s. In 1984, the Chicago Northwestern Railroad began serving southern Campbell County coal mines.
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Welcome to Campbell County Wyoming Genealogy Trails
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